Most pitchers are constantly trying to improve their pitching and improve their pitching speed. Many pitchers practice pitching a lot to get better, but there are other ways to improve as a pitcher, especially when it comes to throwing more heat.

I’m talking about this because I was just browsing around on facebook when I saw this status update by the King of Core himself, Barry Lovelace…

Every time I hear testimonies from softball players that work with Barry (especially pitchers), one thing stands out is they all talk about how they see results FAST! Just about every one mentions that, after just a few sessions and workouts with Barry, they can already see and feel a difference in there softball performance.  What other kind of training does that?

Barry uses lots of core power training, functional training, and sport specific training when working with softball players.  He’s designed some great softball training programs that can help you (or your team) step up your game and do it quick! Best of all, you can do his Barry’s softball training programs during season or off season, any time you want or need it!

Learn more about how you can ramp up your softball performance quick and do it for far less than you’d spend for a personal softball trainer or gym membership => SoftballTeamTraining.com.

The Hawaii Bustos Bash is just two weeks away!

Please remember to share this information with anyone you think may be interested!

What to Expect at the Clinic

The Got Bustos? motto is: “See It, Feel It, Fix It”

This is something that Crystl and instructors take to heart. They let the players “see” what they are teaching, “feel” how their body should feel when doing the exercise and give the tools to “fix it” if they are not doing it correctly.

The Got Bustos? clinics started as “Weekend with Gold” back in 2005 with the help of Mary Ellen Bonner who is now our clinic coordinator. From that one clinic the response to Crystl and her method of teaching was tremendous, but more importantly reaching out to the players that weekend turned into Got Bustos? Sports Training, LLC.

Crystl’s goal has always been to give the players a lot of quality time and training with a limited number of players at a cost that is affordable. It’s always been quality, not quantity with Crystl. We set up our clinics with separate stations. We try to limit the stations to 4-6 players. Crystl and her instructors teach proper throwing and fielding mechanics, which all corresponds with hitting and the rest of the clinic Crystl instructs the players through her “Seven Steps of Hitting.”

Players of the same skill level are put together in stations. The clinics start out with Crystl and the instructors demonstrating a specific drill. The girls then return to their station to work on that drill with an instructor. As Crystl and/or Howard walk around they check to see if all the players understand that particular drill. If not she brings them back together and does another demo. Then back to their group. If there are still players who are struggling she will then put them individually with an instructor until they understand what she is teaching.

In each clinic Crystl always takes time at the end of the session to take pictures with each player (and she lets them wear her Olympic Medals in the picture) and autographs. I have never seen Crystl leave a session without making sure each player gets a picture and something signed. Sometimes that means she signs item after item for the same player.

Each player leaves a Got Bustos? clinic feeling not like they just had a workout with the best hitter on the planet but also made a new friend.

Education and training are both important to all of the Got Bustos? staff and Crystl takes time to talk to the players and explain what having good grades can mean. She also makes it known that she believes it takes a lot of hard work and you have to be willing to put in the time and effort in order to succeed.

Crystl’s motto is: “At the end of the day there is no one to blame but yourself for something you do or do not get”.

Crystl is working to help today’s young players, who will be our Olympic Softball Players should softball make it back to the Olympics, prepare to bring the Gold back to the USA!

Register now to see and work with Crystl in person => http://www.staciemahoe.com/bustos

• Three umpires knocked out of duty.
• Dozens sent to the hospital.
• Warnings of Pavement Explosions!

Whoa – it gets hot in Hawaii, but not like this!

At the state softball tournament in Fort Dodge, where the heat index reached 120 degrees, three umpires left in the middle of games to be treated for heat-related problems.

Each umpire had worked back-to-back games, and officials with the state girls’ athletic union said umpires will never again work consecutive games. The three were treated on site and did not require hospital visits.

Read more about this crazy hot softball tournament here

One thing I learned as a softball coach is that placing hope on the wrong things or the wrong people is a bad, bad idea.  This is true not only in softball, but in life.  It’s like when thousands and thousands of people though the government and mortgage companies were going to help them out with the loan modification program.

Almost ALL of those applications got denied and many of the ones that went through didn’t work anyway.  Thousands of Americans thought they would get much needed help.  Instead, they were strung out and denied.  Or they did get their loan modified, but still ended up losing their home even after modification.

That is an example of placing hope in the wrong place, on the wrong things or people.  It stinks.  You get kicked in the teeth.

When you misplace your hope, prepare to get messed over.

In softball, this happens when coaches place hope in just Plan A or in players who lack a track record of reliability.

You’ve probably seen it before.  The coach who has one strategy of attack and when that doesn’t work on a particular day, he has nothing to fall back on as a Plan B.  He mistakenly pinned all his hope on one strategy that, contrary to what he believed, is not the best strategy for every single situation or team you can possibly face in a season.

Maybe you’ve also seen coaches misplace their hope on the wrong person.  The Princess Diva All-Star that…

• doesn’t work hard in practice
• shows up late and doesn’t think anything of it
• only gives 100% when she wants to or when she feels like it or when it’s convenient for her
• acts as if it’s everyone or everything else’s fault when she struggles (the sun, the rain, the umpire, the catcher that called the wrong pitch, etc)
• never owns up to any of her errors, mistakes, or faults

This is NOT the type of player you want to place all your team’s hope on.

Instead, choose players who will, regardless of the situation, dig in and give it their best shot.

Players who pick and choose when to be on time and when to try hard are going to be inconsistent in their performance because they are inconsistent in their approach and training.

Often times they will only try hard in drills they think are fun and slack or go through the motions in drills they don’t like doing.  This inconsistency in their training will lead to inconsistency in performance.

Not only that, trying hard only when they like what’s going on often equates to trying hard only when things are going well in the game.  For goodness sakes, that’s the easy part.  Anyone that can be upbeat, energetic, motivated, positive, confident and full of hustle when things are going great.

It’s the players who can do that no matter what that gives your team championship character and championship opportunities.  These players can play their game and perform at a solid level whether they’re in a situation they like or not, whether they’re in a situation that’s easy or not.

If a player can’t even make it a point to give their best in a practice drill just because they don’t like it or it gets too challenging is NOT going to be the one you can rely on during “big time” game situations or when your team gets behind or faces any other kind of adversity.

These players often make excuses for poor performance…

• The ball is wet today, I can’t pitch like this
• The sun is in my face, I can’t catch like this.
• The wind is drying my contacts out, I can’t field like this.
• The dirt is too soft in the batter’s box, I can’t hit like this.
• The dirt is too hard on the field, I can’t run and slide like this.
• The mound is crooked, I can’t pitch this.
• The umpire is inconsistent, I can’t hit like this.
• My rubberband isn’t holding my hair back…you get the idea.

Some of those might sound silly, but this type of excuse making is often evident in players who only give their best when they feel like it, who only follow team rules when they feel like it, who only hustle when it’s convenient for them.  They’re not what I hear Coach Heather Tarr refer to as “true athletes.”

Look for players who enthusiastically dig in to any challenge and give everything they got no matter what.  These players, no matter what you throw at them, just jump in and do it.  Whether the situation or task is hard or weird or uncomfortable, they will do their best to get the job done.  Whether people around them think they can or they can’t, it doesn’t matter, they are going to give it their best shot!

Players like this, who give everything they have day in and day out, are the ones you know you can count on!  These are the ones you place your hope in to go out there and play ball!  THESE are the players you put in key roles, not the ones you have to “hope” will show up and feel like playing on game day.

Many people have theories on how lineups should be made. There are general rules of thumb that many coaches follow. For example:

• lead off hitters general have good on base percentages and speed
• hitters in the 2 slot are typically decent bunters with speed as well
• 3-4-5 tend to have more power than hitters in the first 2 spots in the lineup
• etc, etc, etc

However, coaching softball isn’t as simple as going “by the numbers.” If the ultimate lineup was based upon basic hitting stats, there would be formulas out there by which to create the best possible hitting lineup for a team, but there aren’t. At least not that I know of!  I don’t know of any software program or softball calculator where you plug in your team stats and have it spit out your “dream” lineup.  (If you know of one, please shoot me an email and let me in on this secret weapon!)

Then again, that would take a lot of the fun out of coaching wouldn’t it.  Then “anyone” could make head coaching decisions regarding playing time so long as they know how to do math or work the software.

Can you imagine if the ultimate defensive lineup was based on basic fielding stats as well, how on earth would you reconcile a player who has a wonderful fielding percentage and an abysmal batting average?  The computer software would probably spit out two completely different lineups if you entered both hitting and fielding statistics and had it compute “strongest” lineups based upon defensive stats and another based upon offensive stats!  Then what would you do?

Obviously, creating an effective softball lineup is more than just filling in the blanks based upon past results.  If you base your lineup solely upon stats, you fail to consider the conditions under which those stats were generated.  For example, some coaches talk about “protecting” hitters throughout the lineup.  For example, if you don’t “protect” your biggest power hitter, she may not have the RBI stats you think she should simply because opponents opt to walk her and pitch to the next batter instead.  So if your #4 has weak RBI stats, it may not be because she’s a poor RBI hitter.  It could be because of the “conditions” under which she hits.  Place this same hitter in a spot before another hitting threat and you may see her RBI stat increase.

Another reason coaching softball is not math…
Math is great. I love math. It was actually one of my favorite subjects in school. Yes, I was a bit of a nerd. But math that normal people like you and I can do does NOT factor in any human element into the equation. Let’s face it, when we create a softball lineup, we are dealing with human beings.  Any human being that is breathing, especially one going through the first few decades of their life, is undergoing change, transition, or progress.  Human beings are not static individuals who never evolve.  What a player did yesterday or last week or last month is NOT today’s reality.  The benefit a particular player provided your team last week or last month may not necessarily be what your team needs today.  All these variables factor in to the lineup you write for this game.

Yes, past performances give you the information you need as a coach to make informed decisions.  Numbers are great at showing quantifiable facts so that you have something to “lean on” besides your memory or a “feeling.”  I’m not dissing the math altogether or saying you should never use stats as part of a your decision making process, just that stats and numbers are only part of the equation when it comes to putting together your strongest starting lineup for this game.

Besides, if math and numbers were the ultimate way to figure out who the best is, there wouldn’t be so much controversy surrounding the BCS system in college football.

We now have the registration form ready for you to view, print, or save to your computer.

Get the Clinic Registration From HERE

Crystl will do a coach/parent clinic on Friday night (August 5th) then a 2-day player clinic which will include BOTH offense and defense on Saturday and Sunday (August 6th & 7th).

Cost for the coach/parent clinic is $40.

Cost for the 2-day player clinic is $99 (includes both days).

Register to reserve your spot in this first ever Crystl Bustos clinic.

The clinic is slated for August 6th and 7th at Kapolei High School.

Cost is $99 per player for BOTH days.  Get softball hitting instruction from one of the BEST in the game!

General layout for this event will include hitting on Day 1 and fielding/defense on Day 2 (many don’t realize Crystl played SS for the National Team before).

Exact times will be announced soon.  I will keep you posted here at All About Fastpitch when registration forms come out.

Crystl is also interested in doing a coaches clinic for $45 on Friday night.  We don’t currently have a location set for this but will keep you posted as details unfold.

This is an event you don’t want to miss! Got Bustos is offering this first Hawaii clinic at a very special never-been-done-in-Hawaii-before discount.  Hope to see you there.

A player that lifts her teammates to a higher level and helps them quickly recover from mistakes is more valuable than a player who has a stronger arm or bat but doesn’t know how to be a source from which her teammates gain confidence, positivity, and power from.

That post received 53 “likes” within days. That’s the highest yet!

Have you had the opportunity to be on a team with a player like this? Or maybe just observe one on another team?

Players with decent softball skill and this exceptional softball attitude are so much more valuable to a team than a player that has superior softball skills but no further reach.

What do I mean by reach? Dr. Tom Hanson once wrote an article that I wish I could find right now. He was talking about Derek Jeter and about how, when you’re in the room with him, you can just feel his confidence.

His confidence just flows out of him into his surroundings, and therefore, to the people around him as well.

Some players have this effect. Their enthusiasm, confidence, and positive attitude spills over into anything near them.

Other players, while highly talented, do not have this effect.

It’s like everything is bottled up inside them. They perform great, but no none of their teammates can feed off them or “get their juice.”  There’s nothing flowing out of them into their surroundings to feed off of.

While these players may perform at a high level, they do not elevate the game of those around them.

Real MVPs however…

• effectively uplift their teammates
• elevate the game of those around them
• are a source of confidence, strength, resilience, and positivity that others can draw from
• make the game easier and more enjoyable to play
• draw so much enjoyment from simply playing the game their positive “can-do” attitude becomes infectious

Some people refer to this as the “it” factor.  For MVP’s, whatever “it” is…

IT’s in their words and how they say it
IT’s in their every action and every move
IT’s not only when things are going well, but ALL the time
IT’s simply part of who they are

When they infect the rest of the team with their confidence and belief in the team, their team is practically unstoppable!

Seriously, when a team is unified under a common blanket of confidence – watch out!

A player that can bring that to the table every game, to me, brings so much more value than one that can hit a homerun in every game.

What do you think?

My first thought was that the idea was completely absurd.  Then I continued reading and found out that youth sports organizations around the country have been using silence as a tool for promoting a more positive atmosphere surrounding games.  They aren’t using it as a long term, permanent solution to obnoxious fans or overbearing parents, but more for sending a message or creating teachable moments on conduct for parents and fans!

The length of time that youth sports organizations ask spectators for silence varies.  Some require an entire weekend, while others ask for an hour or a quarter of the game.

Other ideas for curbing undesirable conduct include

• no-direction cheering: spectators are allowed to cheer, but can’t give directions such as “throw the ball” or “hit it deep.”  Phrases like “great hit” or “way to hustle” are acceptable.
• cheering for both sides: instead of asking parents for silence, encourage them to cheer for great plays on both teams
• assigned seating: separating spectators from people who are actually involved in the game or having parents sit away from the team

What do you think?  Have you ever participated in a silent game before?  Do you think a silent game would even be possible for in your league?  Is this a strategy you would use?  Do you have your own methods for keeping good sportsmanship a priority from the field to the dugout to the stands?

Leave a comment here to share your thoughts on this issue.  Can’t wait to hear from you!

Well, sometimes players need it in softball too!

Have you ever run across a player that wants to be too perfect?  Perfectionism in athletes can actually be detrimental because athletes that are perfectionist often:

• are afraid to make mistakes
• get upset over the littlest mistake
• are often disappointed frustrated with their performance because it never measures up to perfection
• are reasonably critical of themselves
• expect too much of themselves

All of these things can put a dent in a your confidence. If you try to play this game without confidence, you’ll probably fail much more than you should and, on top of that, won’t find the game very enjoyable. Obviously if you get to that point, you’re in trouble!  Once this game is “no fun” its either time for serious changes or time to give it up.

SO – since you probably don’t want to get to that point, here’s a little trick Dr. Patrick Cohn, youth sports psychology expert, uses to help players who are perfectionists.

He suggests giving them 3 “Get Out of Jail Free” cards at the beginning of a game or practice.  If your player/child makes a mistake, they (mentally) use one of the cards to let go of the mistake and move on.  Being able to let a mistake go and keep moving forward is such a critical part of becoming the best softball player you can be.  Not only that, this is yet another skill that applies to all areas of life, not just to playing softball on the field.

What do you think?  Is this something you would try?  Do you think this can help you?

But what happens when a call or two doesn’t go your way?  Or when one mistake leads to another?  Or when the playing conditions are less than desirable?  Or after you’ve been playing all weekend long and fatigue is starting to set in?  Or when your “best” players go down due to injury, health, or ineligibility issues?  How does your team react then?

Do they have the same approach? Do they remain upbeat and positive?  Or do they start to fall apart?  Do they start to press?  Do they start to get frustrated with themselves or each other?  Does your team fall apart or can your team still perform when things get tough?

I’ll admit, it’s not possible to re-create every challenging game-like situation in practice.  However if your team is never challenged in practice chances are they won’t be able to respond the way you want when challenge arises during the game.

Some very wise coaches and elite athletes suggest that training should be harder, tougher, and more challenging than competition.  That way when game day comes, it seems “easy” in comparison.  Is that what you do? Are you preparing your team to perform under adverse conditions, under any circumstance that may occur?  Or is your practice and training too easy?

Here’s an excerpt from an article by Wayne Goldsmith, high performance expert which pretty much sums it all up…

Accept that all teams have to learn to win in tough conditions and prepare to deal with them better than your opposition.

Notice he didn’t say “your team” – he said ALL teams. Often times we use an unfortunate circumstance in our season as an excuse for poor performance, but that’s just a cop out. Do you really think that the best NEVER have a bad day, or calls go against them, or bad weather to deal with, or personality clashes aka drama?

I’m sure you’d agree that such a perfect team environment doesn’t exist. Every team has it’s ups and downs, it’s challenges and obstacles, but the ones that are best prepared to perform in spite of how tough it gets are usually the ones that come out on top.

Not only is “your best no matter what” a great skill to have on the softball field, but in life as well. Help your players learn to keep moving forward no matter what adversity they may face.  Not only will you probably win more games and maybe even a few championships, but your players will also carry invaluable life skill off the field and into the real world where stakes are much higher than a few statistics or a win-loss record.

However, there were quite a few this week that people really seemed to like, so I decided to put them together in this Thoughts of the Week post for you just in case you’re not all that social media savvy or simply had no clue that I was on either Facebook or Twitter. 

5 Softball Thoughts of the Week

original versions shared on Facebook and/or Twitter

• Lack of focus during the week = sloppy game performance on the weekend
• If you don’t have the guts to call your head coach to say you’ll be late or absent, then you probably don’t have a very good reason.
• Dear softball bats,
  Wake Up! You should be well rested after the last 3 games…
• You know you’re a softball coach when you forget the bikini tan because you sport a major coaching shirt tan instead.
• Just Curious: How do you like your softball pants? Cast your vote and see the responses to date on Facebook

=====================

If you are super social and want to connect with me on the web, check me out at…

Twitter

All About Fastpitch on Facebook

Stacie Mahoe on Facebook

Often times when coaches want you to run through the base better, they make you run farther than 60 feet. But that may not be the best idea.

You see, it doesn’t really matter if your coach makes you run 80 feet instead of 60 feet. If you always train to slow down at the end, you will ALWAYS slow down before your target no matter how far or close it is.

Excellence is a habit – so get in the habit of sprinting THROUGH any marker, goal, base or cone that is set for you, whether it’s 6 feet away or 60 feet away.

This habit is what will help you “get through the bag” more consistently at 1st base, put more pressure on the defense and get safe more often!

If you’re a coach, instead of making your players run farther, try shortening the distance and challenge them to run all the way through. After all, if they can’t consistently “run through the bag” at 30 feet, how do they expect to do it at 60 feet? Often times pointing this out to them is enough to get them focused on doing it right.

As they get better and better running all the way through the shorter distance, start adding more distance until they are running through any target you give them.

Always expect your player’s best speed all the way through ANY sprint you do, whether it’s a short spring or a longer spring, whether it’s their first sprint or their last sprint of the day.  Notice I didn’t say “fastest” because the more your work them, they slower they may get, but they should always be giving their best – whatever it is they have at that time.  Make them do it again if they don’t do it right. Help them create the good habit of going hard and giving their best ALL the way through to the end and beyond, just like you want them to do in a game – not only for baserunning but in every area of play!

Here is what I came up with.

The cost of coaching girls softball for one season…

• Fungo: $99
• Sunglasses: $90
• Cleats: $69
• Training Aids: $200
• Coaching Shoes: $69
• Sports Drinks and Snacks: $120
• Glove: $79
• Coaching Aids/Clinics: $100
• Team Bat: $299
• Gas: $600

Working with and helping young ladies improve as a players and as individuals/people while learning valuable life lessons…PRICELESS!

First is the Island Softball Experience which is a 2-day camp, October 16-17, featuring instruction from experienced softball coaches and former USA Olympic players.  It will also include position specific training for pitching, hitting, base running, infield, outfield, slapping, catching and bunting.  Cost is $200 if you register by the 1st of October.  For more information or to download a flyer/registration packet, go to Wahine Sports Network.

Next we have the Bill Hillhouse Pitching Clinic which will be November 20th (Saturday).  The location has not been set yet, but the format will be as follows:

9:00-10:30am – Pitching Clinic session required for all non-returnees

10:45-11:45 – Private Lesson (max 2 pitchers)

12:00-1:00 – Private Lesson (max 2 pitchers)

1:30-2:30 – Private Lesson (max 2 pitchers)

2:45-3:45 – Private Lesson (max 2 pitchers)

4:00-5:00 – Private Lesson (max 2 pitchers)

How much does it cost?

Pitching Clinic Session – $30/pitcher

Private Lesson Sessions – $45/pitcher

Important Information: ALL pitchers must provide their own catcher.  You CANNOT attend a Private Lesson Session if you have never been to a Bill Hillhouse Clinic in the past.  All new clinic pitchers MUST attend the Pitching Clinic Session at 9:00am.  If you have been to a clinic before, you do not have to go to the 9:00am session.  You can just choose a private lesson time slot and sign up for that session only.  For more information or to reserve a spot, contact me at staciemahoe [at] gmail.com.

It all started with a word at the field that was shared with others.  Then someone else came along and offered to share the insight they got from it.  The insight they shared then lead to this blog post which I am now sharing with you.  That’s a lot of sharing going on, but that’s how we continue to learn and grow and gain insight into ideas or concepts we may not have thought of on our own.  Or sometimes these things just serve as a timely reminder of what we already know – and the internet and social media make it easier than ever to begin and continue this chain of sharing, learning, and growing with each other.

Anyway – on to what this post is really about – The Challenge!

You see, in Coach Meg’s post, I read a phrase that just jumped out at me…

The challenge is to not become complacent

The challenge is to not become complacent…

• with your performance
• with your training
• with your mental approach
• with your school work
• with your interaction with your teammates
• with your performance
• with how you train
• with how you perform
• with what you’ve already accomplished
• etc, etc, etc

That’s such a great line and one that applies to so many player and coaches in the game today.  It’s so easy to become complacent once we find something that “works” or once we accomplish a goal or once we see that we are one of the best amongst our immediate competition.  But complacency is the quickest path to repeating crisis or failure.  So, you may be on top now, but never ever let that stop you from moving forward or continuing to develop.

One thing is certain, once you reach the top, once you become a champion, you now have what everyone else wants. Some are fighting tooth and nail and are willing to do almost anything to get what you have.  If you choose complacency, if you think that now, since you’ve finally reached your goal, that you can relax.  Think again.  That “prize” you’ve earned and worked so hard for will be gone in an instant if you think for once second that there’s nothing else you need to do…that there’s no more to improve upon.  Whether it’s a championship, or an award, or a starting position, or a spot on the team – working for it and earning it does not entitle you to it forever.

You think getting to that point was tough – staying there is a whole ‘nother level!

Complacency is a very sneaky enemy.  The challenge is to not become complacent.

Many say the bat doesn’t matter, it’s the person that hits the ball and there is definitely truth to that. While it’s probably true that great softball hitters could “hit the ball with a stick” I still believe your bat choice matters!

When it comes to choice, softball bats are a lot like shoes. After all, wouldn’t a fast runner be able to run fast even without the best shoes (or even without any shoes at all)? Just as a good softball hitter could probably “hit the ball with a stick?”

For this bat/shoe comparison, let’s assume we are looking for shoes to run fast in and a bat to hit well with. Given these objectives, there are 3 major ways that softball bats are like shoes when it comes to choice.

The Wrong Size Negatively Affects Your Performance – Have you ever tried to run fast in shoes that just didn’t fit right?  If they are too big you’ve got extra room on the end and your feet probably slosh around in them.  That’s not going to help you run your fastest.  If your shoes are too small and are squeezing your feet or squishing your toes or digging in to the back of your heel, obviously that’s not going to help you run your fastest either.  The same is true with a bat.  Choose the wrong size – too light, too heavy, too long, too short, wrong balance, etc and you won’t swing or hit your best.

Some Models Are Designed to Perform Better than Others – I think we can agree that when it comes to both shoes and bats, some are cheap/generic vs higher end/name brand.  Obviously, some models are designed to perform better than others (and are often effective at putting a bigger dent in your pocketbook too).  If you’ve got a light weight shoe that supports your foot well and gives it everything it needs to do it’s thing without getting in the way, you’re going to be able to run closer to your best than if you got some generic shoe that isn’t lightweight and doesn’t really have the best design for optimal running.  I believe the same is true for bats.  Let’s say you did choose the right size and all that, there are certain bats that, just because of the nature of the design will send a ball screaming just a bit more than another cheaper, more generic, non-high performance type model.  Plus, just like some shoes fit and sport your foot better than others, some bats have handles that feel and fit better in your hand than others.  Which do you think is going to allow you maximum comfort and performance in your swing?

Even the Best Won’t Make You Better – If you run 3.5 down the line, there’s no shoe in the world that’s going to transform you into a 2.6 base runner.  Same is true with bats.  If you simply don’t have a good swing or aren’t good at tracking the ball, no bat in the world, no matter how expensive or high tech is going to fix that for you.  However, choosing the right tool for the job allows you to execute the skill the best YOU can while choosing the wrong tool can possibly hinder your performance and stop you from executing the skill the best YOU can.

I agree that execution of the skill itself comes from you.  However, the tool you choose for the job can either

1. allow/help you perform/execute the best you’re capable of or
2. hinder you from performing your best

Choose the tool, in this case, a softball bat, that

• is the best fit – is the right size (length, weight, balance, grip), feels the best in your hands, feels the best when you swing, feels the best on contact, and gives you the most confidence
• doesn’t make you uncomfortable in any way
• doesn’t take away from your ability to execute your best swing

Jennie Finch

But now that she is retiring, the question has been posed: Who will the next softball icon be?

Do you think someone else will reach the notoriety in softball that Jennie Finch has?

What player do you think has the best chance?

Leave a comment here and let us know!

How come players don’t practice on own during week – team practice doesn’t count – yet they want 2 play n college? Help me understand

Oh man!  Sorry Cindy, I can’t help you there because I don’t get it either.  I could go on and on and on about this subject, but let me just touch upon the flurry of thoughts that immediately ran through my head when I read her tweet.

First of all, forget “practice on their own.” I see so many young softball players today who *think* they are on their way to the next level or *say* they want to play in college and yet they can’t even make it a point to give their best effort during TEAM practice!

Read this and think about it: When I compare college practice to youth practice, I’m sure you’d agree that, for the most part, college practice is  far more demanding.  What you may not realize is that on top of this more demanding practice, every college player that I personally know puts in time OUTSIDE of the required team practice time to train. If you’re having a hard time with the concept of putting in “your own time” for training now, when you’re regular team practice isn’t nearly as demanding as it will be in college, how do you expect to survive in the college environment where practices are longer, harder, more demanding AND the rest of your teammates are ready and willing to put in the extra time on their own on top of that to get better?

Who cares what I think? I’m not a college coach. You’re right, I’m not…and probably neither is your travel ball or your high school softball coach.

HOWEVER, if any of them are telling you you’re not doing enough or that you have work to do because you’re not where you need to be yet, I highly suggest you LISTEN!

Why should you listen to them? They aren’t the college coach you’re trying to impress right? You think some college coach is going to be impressed with you because you got skills?

You know what? I’ll admit, you might be right. They may very well be impressed with what they see on display at a tournament here or there; or on film that you send them. But what about when they begin seeing you day in and day out like your coach does?

Wake up call coming up in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…

If your coach…

• who is NOT a college coach
• who does NOT have the same high standards or expectations that college coaches do
• who’s livelihood does NOT depend on coaching your team…

If he ain’t impressed…What makes you think a college coach will be?

Yeah, maybe you’ll get there, but then what?

Then you get a major kick in the butt because all this time you’ve had your mind and ears closed to what your coaches have been trying to tell you? Because you’ve been under an illusion about your own skills and work ethic? Because you thought your cannon for an arm and your big bat were going to be enough to “Wow” those college coaches beyond belief that they would blindly overlook the flaws your coaches see?

Look, I’m not saying this to be mean or disrespectful. I’m saying all of this so that you, hopefully, get the wake up call BEFORE you fall flat on your face in college and have to figure out how to scrape yourself up off the ground.

The transition to the college level is tough enough when you are well prepared. I believe that no matter where you go, no matter how good you are, it’ll be an adjustment. If you go in unprepared or under-prepared, college can be tremendously overwhelming.  College is a different pace, a different routine from what you’re used to.  Pile all that up with your lack of preparation on the softball front and you may start doubting whether or not you really belong there.  Players quit playing and drop out of college because of this kind of thing.  I don’t want this to happen to you.

Do the work NOW to prepare yourself as much as you can for the journey ahead. Listen to the feedback others are giving you and use whatever you can to make yourself better.  If the situation you’re in is a cake walk and isn’t challenging to you, find a way to challenge yourself so that you’re not shocked by the obstacles you may come across in the future.  Practice dealing with and overcoming adversity now so that you’ll be able to tackle it head on in the next chapter of your life, whatever that may be.  There is a lot to enjoy after high school BUT you have to be willing to prepare now in order to reap those rewards at any level.

Today’s stop features a free report softball coaches can use to help reduce problems with parents during the season.  Dealing with can become a huge distraction in your season and negatively affect the performance of your team.  Plus it’s just a bunch of stress you don’t need.  Unfortunately, I don’t have the magic cure to guarantee elimination of all parent issues, but this report has 3 useful and practical tips you can use to significantly reduce the likelihood of major parent problems.